Word for Wednesday
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Galatians 3:18
A young man, apparently sincere, came to the Lord Jesus one day with a very important question. We have it recorded in three of the Gospels: Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matthew 19:16; Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Mark 10:19; Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luke 18:18. Jesus’ answer to this question was very simple: keep the law. The problem is, none of us has ever kept the law. We wouldn’t if we could, and we couldn’t if we would. Jesus’ response points out the false premise of the young man’s question, the premise that doing something good will bring us into the inheritance of eternal life. That brings us to the good news of the Gospel, the inheritance of eternal life by promise, not by works. So, how do we receive that promise. Just like Abraham did.
Abraham was a righteous man. But he did not become righteous by his works; he became righteous by his faith: ‘And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness’ (Genesis 15:6, Galatians 3:6). That means Abraham’s righteous deeds were the result of his righteousness, not the source of his righteousness. Abraham’s belief resulted in not only righteousness but also great promises. Abraham inherited those promises that God gave to him. You and I, when we accept the Gospel’s message that Christ died for the ungodly, enter into that same righteousness and inherit the promises of God for us.
Every one of us can quote John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Those are wonderful words. We believe them, just as we have believed in the Son. And the promise of everlasting life is ours. Remember, it’s not a promise of everlasting life in the future, but everlasting life now and into eternity. – Jim MacIntosh